Reijnders Faces Decision as Saudi Offer for Man City Midfielder Emerges

Tijjani Reijnders could be on the move again, barely a year after arriving at Manchester City. The interest this time is huge, the money even bigger.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano and other outlets report that Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah have tabled a €60 million offer for the Dutch midfielder. An agreement with Manchester City is said to be in place. The only piece missing: Reijnders’ own green light.

That is not guaranteed.

At 28, the Dutchman sits right in the middle of his prime years and is understood to be unsure whether a switch to Saudi Arabia is the right step now. The financial package would dwarf anything on offer in Europe, but the sporting trade-off is obvious. Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray have also registered their interest and offer a very different path, yet neither can touch the salary levels available in the Gulf.

Valuable, but Not Untouchable Under Guardiola

On paper, it sounds strange that City might cash in so quickly. Reijnders played often under Pep Guardiola last season. He was involved in 50 matches across all competitions and produced 15 goal contributions – seven goals and eight assists. Those are serious numbers for a midfielder who was never truly part of the club’s untouchable core.

He was trusted, yes. Indispensable, no.

That nuance matters now. With Guardiola gone and Enzo Maresca stepping in, City’s midfield picture has shifted again. The Italian inherits a squad stacked with options exactly where Reijnders likes to operate – in central and attacking midfield.

New €135 million signing Elliot Anderson arrives with the expectation of major minutes. Matheus Nunes, Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Claudio Echeverri can all fill the same zones. It is a crowd, even by City standards.

In that context, a €60 million offer for a player who is important but not central to the project suddenly looks tempting.

Rodri Domino and the Enzo Fernández Plan

One major variable still hangs over all of this: Rodri.

Barcelona are pushing hard for the Spanish world and European champion, and there is still no agreement between the clubs on a transfer fee. His future remains unresolved. If he does leave the 10-time Premier League champions, City will almost certainly have to move again in the market.

Inside the club, Enzo Maresca is said to view Enzo Fernández as the ideal solution. The pair worked together at Chelsea, and that familiarity only strengthens the case. But Chelsea are not inclined to wait around.

According to The Athletic, the London club have set a clear deadline for any suitors, including Manchester City and Real Madrid: until Friday evening, €140 million must be on the table for the Argentine, or the door closes.

So City face a complex equation. Cash in on Reijnders now and free space and funds in a crowded midfield? Hold their nerve in case Rodri departs and they need every creative option available? Or push hard for Fernández at a premium price while juggling outgoing deals?

Reijnders’ decision, and Rodri’s future, will tell everyone how bold City really plan to be in reshaping the heart of their team.